We can read all of the textbooks and access a plethora of resources but the experience of collectors provides a remarkable and essential backdrop for deepening our understanding of wine. Collectors don’t just fall from the sky of course, but rather like most of us, we develop our interests, usually alone, until we have occasion

It is always a great pleasure to connect with people that are able to provide illumination about wine on a deep level, what their experiences have been, both common and unique, and compare that information with our own experience and knowledge. With many of the people I am so privileged to share wine with, I

Those of you that know me or read this blog on occasion know that I am all about French wine. I really do appreciate wines from every wine region in the world but appreciation doesn’t always extend to fondness. It’s difficult to imagine a world without French wine because virtually every other region on the

In Part 1 of the Brian Owens interview, we introduced this savant oenophile who has contributed so much depth to the outstanding wine community in Austin Texas and beyond. As mentioned, one of his greatest contributions to wine was his creation of the Austin Wine Salon, where each month collectors, sommeliers, restaurateurs, and wine industry

Let’s face it. As fascinating as the subject of wine is per se, there would be no wine without actual people (at least so far) so the nexus of this series of interviews takes on the greater subject of influencers, whether they be winemakers, collectors, chefs and foodies, educators, or benefactors whose path has somehow

It’s pretty easy to taste and write about great wine from a great vintage, especially if it’s from a great château like those in Part 2. All of those wines mentioned from the appellations of Pauillac, Margaux, St Julien, and St Estèphe in Part 2 are produced by châteaux from the Classification of 1855,

As I mentioned in Part 1, the 2010 Bordeaux tasting was the highlight of Vinexpo for me and really one of the main reasons I went to the event. I have enjoyed fine wine from every region of the world and it doesn’t matter if it’s great Burgundy, Syrah/Shiraz, Brunello, or Riesling, I always come

I had heard about Vinexpo several years ago from wine industry friends that told me Vinexpo is the largest and most premier wine event in the world. It sounded great to me but the one caveat is that it’s for the trade only. Still I inquired, thinking maybe a wine blogger would be enough to

The experience of tasting nearly 2000 wines in the course of about 65 flights seems daunting to me even now but that is exactly what I did for Better Wine Guide. I’m fairly caught up with this project and I’m ready to get back to writing. As challenging as this was for me, I

To my dear readers: I know I’ve gone off the grid for a couple of months or so. I haven’t wanted to stay away but, like you, I’m subject to that dumb allocation of ‘you only get 24 hours a day’ rule. If I could have managed to stretch it or bend that unforgiving mandate